Library card printing machine



Jan. 1, 1935. L. w. MOULTON 1,986,352-

LTBRARY CARD PRINTING MACHINE Fild Jan. 28, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN nwro/F ITNESS Jan. 1, 1935. w. MOULTON LIBRARY CARD PRINTI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIIII Jan. 1, 1935. 1.. w. MOULTON LIBRARY CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 w M M M a 1 M W n I hll V 7 7 54 m m 9 7 r E m m m y 0 3 5 i M r 0 M 54 a A 5 I 0 I MI II a, 7 WOW v! B W m E z M W X E Jan. 1, 1935.

L. W. MOULTON LIBRARY CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 223, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 33 [wt/Wok Q I I ATZP/VIYJ Jan. 1, 1935. L. w. MOULTON 1,986,352 r I LIBRARY CARD PRINTING MACHINE V Filed Jan. 28, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 E77,

2 INVENTOR.

.WW Mr/visa Br JKXWZ My!) 77' Jan. I, 1935. w, MOULTON 1,986,352

LIBRARY CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 This invention relates-to a portable printing machine of the class set forth in .my pendinggap plication Serial No. 394,531; filednseptembere23, 1929,, in that it is adapted to beused moreparticularly in circulating libraries, and other places where books and other articles are temporarily loaned to borrowers, for recording thedates of issue and return of such articles, together with the identification characters of the borrower upon suitable cards commonly known, respectype plates. tively, as librarian's cardand borrowers card.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and durable machine of this character by which the records may be more conveniently, expeditiously andnoiselessbeen practised.

One of the specific objects is to provide powerdriven means for operating the printing couple in which the printing operation is automatically controlled by the insertion and removal of one of the cards between and from the printingelements as distinguished from the-hand-operated printing means disclosed in my pending application referred to.

, gitudinal vertical sectional View taken in the plane of line, 2- 2,, Figure 1, except that the motor isfsho'wnin elevation.

Figure 2 is alon taken in the plane of line 3-3, Figure ZQeXcept that the upper portion of the card guide is shown by @Otted lmesin full, POItlOIlSDf the borrowers card and librar- Flgul'e 19 P p i VIEW Of 1. f t

,ians card being show-nin operativeposition for d ched cardc ated'levers hown in Figures Patented Jan. 1, 1935 :i "i r f, 3, LIBRARY climb PRINTING MACHINE V Lloyd W. Moulton, Syracuse, N. Y. assignor to v Gaylord Bros. 1110;, Syracuse, N. Y., a cor-pone tion of New York i. l :1.

13Cla5ms. (Cl. 101-433) aportion of the card.

d uses will be brought out in l ,ApplicationJanuary 28, 1931, Serial No. 511,816 p sectional views taken respectively in the planes oflinesH and i ure '7'. l Figure 6 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane of limb-6. Figure -7.

Figure 7, is a horizontal sectional view just beneath thetopof the housingztaken the plane of line 7+7, Figure 2, showing more particularly the printing couple; ribbon .teed mechanism and card guide, together with the carrier for the date- Figure 8; is an inverted plan of the ribbon feeding mechanism andadjacent portions of the housing upon which it mounted, 3

Figure 9 is an inverted plan of the same ribbon feeding mechanism shown in Figure :8, except ly impressed upon the cardsthan has heretofore that the reels forthe; ribbon are removed, and

their respective spindles shown in sectionpthe shifting lever being als omitted.

Figure 101s an emerged detail verticalsectional view of the ribbon-feeding mechanism taken in the plane of line lo -10; Figure 3, showing also the adjacent portion of, the top of'the housing.

V ,Figure 11 .is, ;a ,detail; vertical sectional view taken intheplane of line 11--11, Figure 7: 1 Figure 121s an-enlarged detail vertical section- Another object to enclose the entire printal view taken approximately in the plane of line ing mechanism, cutting mechanism and. power unit for driving said mechanisms, within or upon a single'housing so that the complete machine may be relatively small, compactand easily portplaten andcard uid able from place to place by the user. r

12-12, Figurelfi, showing more particularly the vertically adjustable type-plate carrierand its operating means, together. witha portion of the g l Figures 13 and. liar-e perspectiveviews of the Afurther object is t0 111011111} the ink-ribbonand type-plate carriepshowing the obverse and reits feeding mechanism directly, upona hinged verse sides thereof. 7 part lid-0f the housing a d 111511911 m Figure 15 a perspective view of one of the nor that when the lid is opened, freeaccess may detached type plates v be had to the various parts of the power unit and Figure, 16 an enlafged printing couple and also to the ribbon feeding means, without otherwise displacing other parts of the machine.

, Other objects an the following description. .In the drawings:-

Figure 1, is atop plan of a librarycard printing v machine embodying the variousieatures of my cardoperatedlevershorizontal sectional view through the printing couple and ribbon reels, showing also the means for punching out Figure 17 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the punch guide and punch therein, togetherwit-h the adjacent portion of one of the Figure 18 is anenlarged inner face view of the 1'7 and 18. 1

card-actuated mechanism for establishing driving connection betwee'nthe motor-actuated countor-shaft and movable element ofthe printing Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectionalview couple, t Parts "being shqwn, in their normal inactive positions, while a portion of the card Figures 4 and 5 are detail longitudinal vertical Figures 20 and are detail sectional views lines, one above the taken respectively on lines 20-20 and 21-21, Figure 18.

Figure 22 shows a perspective view of the two cooperative detents which serve to hold the clutch pawl in its inoperative position.

Figure 23 is a detail sectional view through the top of the housing, showing the lid-locking means.

Figure 24 is a perspective view of the detached handle for knob as a part of the means, for moving the type bar vertically and also for locking and releasing the lid. I'

Figures 25 and 26 are perspective views of the borrowers card and the libra-rians cardrespectively.

Figure 27 is a detail sectional view through the type plate and adjacent portion of the card shown in Figure 26.

As illustrated, this machine comprises a substantially rectangular main supporting frame or housing of slightly greater length than width and provided with upwardly converging side walls 1-, similar upwardly" converging endwalls 2 and a top wall3, the latter being'provided with an opening 4 normally closed bya lid section-5 which is hinged or pivoted at 6 to one of the end walls of the opening-4 to'swing vertically to and from "a closed position or'from a substantially horizontal position to, andslightl'ybeyond a vertical po sition to allow the lid toremain open when fully opened.

Thislid section-5 extends nearly the full width of the top of the housing,=but is relatively narrow lengthwise of said top and located substantially midway between the ends thereof as shown more clearly in Figure 2 for receiving and supporting the feeding mechanism for the ink ribbon described. 1

The housing is hollow throughout the major portion of its area,and-is provided with suitable supporting feet "'Tsecured to it's'loweredges near the four'corners thereof, thereby allowing aventilatingspace for the circulation of air through the interior of the housing to prevent excessive rise of temperature of the air therein'by' the operation of the motor and other moving parts.

For convenience of description, the' lefthand end of the housing may be regarded as the front of the machine. 1 I

The lid 5is provided nearitsfront edge with an upwardly projecting flange8 having laterally spaced posts 8' to which is bolted 'or otherwise removably secured-aforw'ard extension "9 which is adapted'to move with the lid about its pivotal hinge 6, said extension 9 being provided with an upwardly and forwardly curved card guide 10 having a guide openinglo" forreeeivingia card .a, as shown moreclearly in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and Figure 12, the card being also shown in Figure 25 and is similar to thatshown and described in Patent No. 1,818,830 issued to George Van Dusen August 11th, 193 1.

c The central portion of the upper frontend of the card guide 10 is cut out at 11 to facilitate the insertion and removal 10f the card by hand into and out'of the guide; opening lo'iwhichis of I sufiicient depthfrom he r s rear to permit the ,card to slide easily "therein and is of about the same width as that of thecard, so that the side walls of theguide mayhold the card against undue lateral movement, andthereby to facilitate themaking ofimpressi ns thereon in parallel other 'in' a mariner jhereinafter more fully explained; v

V The lid .5 is also provided with a verticalv uide "opening 12 located just at the rear of the section 9 for receiving a vertically slidable type-plate carrier 13 having its upper end provided with a handle 13 by which it may be inserted and removed into and from the opening 12, as shown more clearly in Figures 12, 13 and 14.

An additional vertical guide opening 14 is formed in the lid 5 just at the rear of, and in proximity to, the card guide 10 forreceiving a type-bearing card ,a' having v a type plate 15 incorporated therein as shown more clearly in Figure 26, both cards being rectangular in form, and

of substantially the same size, so that if necessary or desirable, the card a may be inserted in the guide 10 for receiving date impressions thereon.

Substantially one-half of the card guide 14 extends from one side across approximately half of the card guide 10 or from the center of the latter guide beyond the righthand edge thereof, a distance approximately equal to the overlap of the guides so that when the card a is inserted in the guide 14 its type plate 15 will be'brought into registration with the righthand half of the previously inserted card a in the guide 10 for impressing the type on the plate 15 on the card a during the printing operation, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The card guide 14 is arranged intransverse alignment with the guide opening 12 for the type bar 13 so that the type of the bar 13 and card a 'will be disposed in the same transverse plane to cooperate with a movable platen, presently described, for impressing the type characters of the type bar 13 and type card a upon the card a when the latter is inserted in its guide 10, Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and Figures 12 and 16.

The opposite longitudinal edges of the type bar 13 and corresponding side walls of the guide opening 12 are dovetailed in cross section to facilitate the vertical movement of the type bar and to hold it against relative forward and rearward movement when adjusted for use, the dovetailed edges of the type bar serving also as a means for receiving and retaining a plurality of type plates 16, as shown more clearly in Figures 12 to 15 inelusive.

As illustrated, the type bar 13 is arranged to receive a plurality of, in this instance four, type vided with inturned flanges 16 adapted to engage in lengthwise grooves 17 in the opposite lengthwise edges of the bar 13 to hold them against forward displacement, it being understood that the type plates extend across the front face of the bar 13, as shown in Figure 13.

These type plates are provided with negative type 18 embossed in their front faces and representing different dates of borrowing and return of the book or other article to be printed upon the card a when inserted in the guide 10 immediately preceding the operation which is controlled by the insertion and removal of the card in a manner hereinafter described.

The bar 13 is also provided with a central lengthwise groove 19 extending from thelower end thereof upwardly a'limited distance for receiving a fiat bow spring 20 which is under relatively light tension and is provided with a shoulder A 21 for engaging the lower edge of the lowermost plate 16 to hold all of the plates against undue fdownward movement while the type bar 13 with the plates thereon is being used for printing purposes. I

The spring 20 is yieldable under relatively light cent portion of agosegsza bar 13 vertically one type"platespace' at a time and for this purpose its rear face is pro- -vided with a toothedrack'22 meshing' with a pinion '23, which is secured to a relatively shor-t horizontal shaft 24 having a hand wheel by which the shaft with the-pinion 23 thereon may be rotated at will" for 'adiustingj the type bai' l3 vertically. I r l r This shaft 24 is journaled ina"hardened steel bearing block 26 and extends outwardly through an opening 27 in the lefthand side 'l'of thehous inE, while the hand-wheel 2 5 isSecured to the outer end thereof by asetscrew 2am equivalent fasteningmeana as shown more clearly 'in Y -The rear face of the type bar 13 is provided witha series of; in this instance four, recesses 29 arranged vertical alignment at one side of the toothed rack 22 for receiving a detentj which is urged into engagement with the-registering recess by a coil spring -3l,' as --shown in Figure 12, the inner-end of the detent 30 being rounded to allow it to be forcedoutwafrdly against the action of the sprin'gdl as the-typebar 13 is "shifted vertically to difierent positions, it being understood that theree'esses -29 are spaced equal distances apart corresponding to the spacingof the typeplates 16 on the front faceoffithe type bar, as shown in Figures 12, 13 and-l4; f

The periphery of the indexing wheel 25 is provided with indexes 25 spaced circumferentially to correspond to the spacingofthe' recesses 29 and type plates 16 on the type barl3 to'indicate to the operator the ,position'bf adjustment of the type bar 13, and thereby to determine which one of the type plates 16 is in position'for printing upon-the card a. g

V .Lid lock and releasev This hand w en 25 "and its shaft 24 are also utilized for locking and releasing the-lid 5 in and from its'closed position, and for-this purpose, the lid -isprovided witha relatively thin locking plate 32 depending from fthe underside thereof some distance froin'its pivot 6 andacross 'a portion of the'shaft 24;andhasitslbwer'end 1 y e The rear walls of the type bar guide 12 and card guidevl are extended downwardly fromthe slot ,32 for receiving the ad-iathe shaft"24, the'lup'per end of the slot being circular and of slightly larger diameter than that of the shait. 1

The portion ofthe shaft registeringwith the locking plate '32 is provided witha"-recess 24", thereby reducing its diameter to about the-width of the lower end of the slot 32" so-that when the provided with a wider portion of the shaft extends transversely of the upper end of the-slot 32, asshownby full lines in Figure 23, it will lock the lid in its closed position, while on the other handyif the shaftzis turned to bring its narrower portion lengthwise :of theslot 32 the lid'will be released landmay be opened.

- In order that the position of thereduced portion of the shaft may beaccuratelydetermined by the position of the hand wheel 25, the inner end face of the latter is'providedwithstop-shdulders 33 and 33' spaced circumferentially a distance apart corresponding approidmately to the are of movement required torlshifting the type nan-@132 verticallyifrom one extreme "position to thelother, said stop shoulders being adapted "to iengageflastop pin 3.4.which in a suit able socket .35 in the adjacent side 1 of the hous- =1 ing, and normally urged outwardly by. .a .coil spring 34f,.-.as1 shown more clearly inFigure '3. zi The typexhai' 135s adapted to be removed and replaced-through thcupper open end of its guide 12- and is first moved downwardly in its guide untiidtsiupperrtype "plate 16 is'hrought to its printing positionporin .registrationwith the rer-moyable'platen of the printing mechanism hereinafter describcd.1.. .1. 'liiDuring' this rmovement thepinion 23 and its "Shanna, together with the hand wheel 25 will be irotatediin (a clockwise direction until limitedxby thesengagementhf the shoulder 33 with the stop pin #34, the hand wheel being then in its position 1R1; it 1- a -L1b'i$: now vident that byturning the hand Whee1o25 a reverse direction to different positionnsadetermined by the engagement of the de- 1tenta30 withonelor the otherof the recesses 29 the type bar 13, the latter will be moved step by step upwardly-to successively registerits type plates-16 with the, printing platen until limited by the engagement of the stop 33 with the stop pin34..3;,1 1 t During thiswrotation the wider part of the shaft/24 registering with the locking plate 32 will remain. transverselyof the slot 32" and thus continuethelockingof the lid in its closed position. The-stop pin 34 maymhowever, be-forced in?- wardly by the finger or other pointed instrument :against -the;action ofthe sprmg 34. to'move it out: of engagement with the stop shoulder andwthus permit, further rotation ofthe. hand wheel-'25 in a counter-clockwise direction which causes the narrower portion of, theshattZ registering, with the; plate 32 to assume va: position lengthwise of the slot 32' for releasing the lid and permitting the latter to be opened It isnow-evident thatthe locking and releasing of therlid 5 .in andjfrom itsclosed position-is controlledhysthe hand wheel 25 and stop pin 34 and when these printingoperatlons 1mm the type plates on the type bar 13 are to be repeated it -.is,;simply necessary to force the 'type'bar down- *wardly,. thereby.restoring the hand wheel 25 to its zstartingwpositionthrough the medium of the :pinion 23nand shaft 24. t

Printing mechanism underside of the-lid 5 to form what may be termed fixed platens 36 and 36'- respectively in Opp sed irelation'to movableplatens 37 and 371' respectively, thelatter being mounted :upon a single support u38rwhichtis hinged at 39 toswing about a hori- JZOHtaLEXl SQtOWflId and from the fixed platens ,36

and 36, as shown more clearly in Figures 4, 5, 12

underside of the top of the main supporting frame l or housingytrs shown more clearlydnl igurcs 2,4, 315

-5 andfl; andl'supports Fnotlonly the platen 38 but alsoithei punch-1mechanismp'the 3 clutch and its operating. mechanismv and themeans for trans mitting mot-ion from the power unit to the platen and punch to form what may'betermediapower transmitting;unit."-i= 3: n

'I'he-powerunit preferably comprises an electric motorx4lrmounted ini-a 'suitable frame 42 which in Iturn is. bolted-or otherwise secured v to the u'ndersideof the'topiwall of'the main supporting frame orsh'ousing it'o extend:downwardly therefrom for supporting a motor mainly at one side of. the longitudinal. center :of the? housing,. as shown more clearly in Figures 2and'3. :motorjsha-ft-as 41'- extends lengthwise of the.- housing and is connected by 5 a flexible coupling 342:. to *a zwormr shaft -43' Wh-i0h is journaled infitheflcas'e 40 andimeshes with a worm gear 44; :the latter. being secured to a counter-shaft 45 which is journaled in a suitable bearing "46 ina i'plan'e above a'nd-at right angles to the worm shaft 43, as shownv more rclearly in Figuresr2 and" 3."-'-

-- A sleeve vbearing 147-. is' i'nou'nted upon theinner end of :the shaft 44'for receiving: and-supporting a collar 48 which isfrotatable relatively to the 'shaft145and-is providedat one end with a cam 49-and at-its otherl'end with a disk 50. See'Figure3.'ll "x3 1v- A The shaft 45 carrying the collar 48, is located direetlyfin-ifront' of the intermediate portion of the movable'platen 38which is provided'with a rollerxbearing 51 engaging the'perimeter of the cam 49 as" a means of transmitting motion from the cam to the movable platen, as; shown more clearly incsFigurei=4.' V

The; platen members 3 7' and"'37": -are both formedupon and from a single piece of relatively hard rubber orequivalentmaterial'which is-insorted in agrooved 'metal-supporting member 52, the latter'being seated in 'a' groove 52 in the rear face of the upper portion of the' platen supports'ingm'ember 38. 1 W

The platen-members 37 and 37 are separated by an-intervening recess in which is *seated the free "end o'f- -a flat spring '54 having its lower fiend-bolted or otherwise secured to the rear 1 face of the platen supporting member 38 for normally fhdlding-ithe platen block and its'supporting mem- "ber 52 against accidental displacement, the. upper end of the springbeing adapted to --be':inoved rearwardl-y; out of :the recess 53-to perm1t'the reg position against therlactisnfofl a retracting spring 65 simultaneously with eachprinting' opmoval and replacement of-tl'ie: platen block and its supporting member when desired,

The cam 49 is adapted to be rotated intermittingly one complete "rotation at a time and at'the end of each-"revolution its low'er point will bein engagementwith the'roller 51" onthe platen support 38, thereby allowing the latter to be spring "actuated away from the fixed platen 36 to form an intervening opening into which the 7 cards a and-- a may be inserted across the printing faces 'o'f the type' plates 16 and 1 5 respectively; as shown 'more'clea'rlyinFigures"3, 4 and5'. 1f 1 w The-"librarians card-h bearing the identification pla'te 15 is inserted from: :the top downwardi into its guide opening 14:until its..type plate "is brought into: .direct 1 opposition P to: the" corresponding platenmemb'er-Bflf} i'said. downward movement eb'eing \limitedtby a; stop; shoulder-x55 which, when engaged by the lowerfend of the r card, serves to register the Ftypeplate 15;! with 1 the corresponding: platenf member 374,. the a card being removed by.-hand immediately following aeach printingopertttiom-Fig; .415; 553; 5 ..=.l'I'he-. card;.g'uide, 1'0 isuprovided ithiaqpairj-of :iycsmssa relatively 1 thin v "sheet metal stripper plates 5 6, extending downwardly therefrom into the interior of the housing between the rear faces-of "the platen .members} 37 and 337 and the ,guide openingsm1-2 and. 14, so that the rear stripper =plate1.may:.iform theiront walls, of said guide openings, while the front stripper. plate forms agrear' extension wallrob-the guideggopening 10 ,forthe carda; as shown more clearly in Figures 4, 5;, 12 and 16..

These flat stripper plates are arranged in slightly spaced relation to receive between; them an inking ribbon 57-which is arranged totraverse the front face of the stationary platen, 36' in'the horizontal plane of'the platens}? and 37',and, therefore, transversely of the machine, as will be hereinafter more fully-described, said stripping platesbeing provided with openings 58 and 58" registering respectively with the platen members 37and 37'-,,and also with the corresponding type plates '16 and. 15 so that when the. platen members 3.? and-37 arem v dt th p i t ne os iq th impressions of the type plates 16 and 15 wilLbe made upon the rear face o t-the card a through the medium of the inking ribbon 57 which extends lengthwise across the openings 58 and 58 ,See Figures 4, 5, l2 and 1 6. I j v y- Thecard a is inserted from the top downwardly through its guide opening; 10/ until limited by the engagement of the lower edge of its lefthand corner with a'limiting stop 60 forming a rearward extension of a punch 61 which is reciprocally movable endwise in a guide opening 62 of the die block 26, as shown more clearly in Figures lfi and 17, said. guideblock being formed with a vertical guide opening 64 for the-lower lefthand edge of the carda, communicating with the guide opening-62 so thatwhen the cards is inserted in the guide openings 10 and64 the rearward moveing position by the operation "of the cam 49,

thereby allowing the card tomove downwardly.

( step by step one line space following each printingoperation to bring successive impressions of the typeplates on diflerentportions of the card a.

{I he punchifil is preferablymoved-to its puncheration or withftherearward movement of the platen 38, and for this purpose the platen 38. is

provided with a roller66 bearing against the ,front' end of the punch 61 as shown more clearly in Figures 16 and 17; the spring 65v also serving ,to return-the platen 38 toits normal starting position following the printing and punching operation; I I t Card controlled clutch. f

Suitable means, including a clutch, is provided 'for transmitting rotary motion from the counter- Sshaft '45 to the collar 48 carrying the .cam 49 andithis clutch is controlled by a'suitable mech- -anismbrought into action by the insertion of the card a into its guide opening and for this purpose a clutch pawl 67, Figure 18, is pivoted at -67:. to the outer endface of .the disk 50 on the I icollar :48 to move into and out of engagement with aclutch member 68icon'sisting; in this in- --stance, of a ratchet-wheelsecured to the adjacent end of thejcounter-rshaft (45, as shown more clear- 13 in Figures. 3,and,18;.the,pa wl .467, being adapted '11:, Figure 18, through its connections with me iate:

to be forcedinto engagement with the teeth of i the ratchet'lwheel -67by means of a spring 69,.Fig-

Theratchet-wheel 68is, adapted to be rotated continuously in the direction indicated byarrow the Continuously operating motor 41;

' It is, thfJIiQfOI'Q ObViOUS that if the pawl6'7 is. broughtvinto engagement withany one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 68, it will effect the rotation of the collar 48 and its cam 49, by which operation the platen,38 willbe moved? to and from its printingposition to cause the impresw sions or the type plates 16 and 15 to be made upon the card a through the medium of the inking' ribbon 'l. i i

The movement of the platen 38 to its printing position by the cam 49 will also move the punch 61 to its cutting position for cutting away the lowerlefthand corner of the card a and immediately; following these'oper-ations the punch 61 and platen "38- will be returned to their normal starting 'positions by the spring 65. y i

As previously stated, the ratchet wheel 68 and its pawl 6'7; constitute a clutch for transmitting rotary motion from the counter-shaft 45 to the collar 48 having the cam 49 which in turn actuates theplaten38 and punch 61 against the action of the retracting spring 65. I

Thepawl o7, however, is normally held out of l engagement with the ratchet wheel 68 by separatedetents or cam levers 70 and'Zl, both of which are pivotally mounted for independent. movement upon one and the samepivotal stud '72fwhich is secured to the transmission case 40,

as. shown more clearly in EigurestlS and 22. v The detent lever '70 is yieldingly held in its pawl-engaging position by means of a spring 73, while the detent lever '71 is yieldinglyheld .in its pawl-engaging position by a spring 'l4, as

Figure 2. See also shown more clearly in Figures=18 and;20. Both the action of the spring '74,

oi -these detents 70 .and '71 are adapted to be tripped sequentially by suitable devices operated by the insertion of thecard a into itsguideopening l y l p One of these tripping devices comprises a rocking plate 75 having its lower end pivoted at 76 to the block 26 on the transmissioncase40 to rock forwardly and rearwardly and has its rear edge-curved to forma cam face 77 extending acrossthe guide opening 10 near the lefthand side thereof as shown more clearly in Figures 7, 18 and so that when the card a is insertedin said guide opening, it will engage the'cam face 'YTWlth a sliding motion and thereby rock the upper end of the member 75 forwardly against 'The upp er front end of the rocking plate 75 isupivotally connected at 78 to the rear end of a tripping lever 79 having a lengthwise slot 80 for T receiving a guide pin 81, which is secured to the block 26, as shown more clearly in Figure 21, the front end of the slot 80 .being open-while its rear end is enlarged to permit slight radial movement of the lever 79 relatively .to the guide pin 81 when the enlargement of the slot is registered withwsaid pin in a manner hereinafter described. V

The lower edge of -the front end of the :upper of the lever "79 is cut-awayto form amshou-lder 82 winch is -adapted to engage a pin 83on the upper end of the detent '70 as the lever 79 is moved forwardly by the forwardmovement of the; ,upper end of the L'rocking plate 75, thereby effecting: thettripping of the detent =70 fromholdr ing engagement withth'e heeloct the pawl. 671With7j.

out tripping tithe detent'fll.

' ,In other words the insertion oi? the card a into its guide opening 10 effectsthetripp n ixoflthe detent '70 1' through 5 the l medium .of :the; rocking plate 575 and :lever '79 which: are moved to. I the positionshown byadotted linesin 'Figurevl8. V; Then,:as-the downward movement of; thecard a. ;-in its gguide opening 10;1 continues, 1 the lower edge of the card ivillvbeabroughtintoengagement withga-nothen trip-deven 84} which, is also: pivotally mounted upon-tithe pivotal bolt-'76 to rockyertir This trip-lever 84:, is preferably vlthe tu crankrtyp; the ream end-84': of which normally extends across the guide slot 10' in a plane belowthe camface =7 7 -,0f; the .rockinglplate 75 so that the downward movementzofi the cardain its guide slot lowill'engage and rock the extension 8470f the lever 34 downwardly, thereby causing the opposite;arm-{oil theyleveritoz rock; upwardly. tojthe position shown by. dotted lines inFigurelB.

The front armpf the lever1 s4 iszprovidedlwith a slot :85 for reoeivinga" pin 86'0n-:therear.-end of the. detent '11.; fast shown imoreaclearly in ;Figures l8 and 20, whereby the :upward ,movement of the front arm of the lever 84 by the engagementor? the; card awith itsrearend s l' will cause a correspondin upward movement; of the -rear end of the detent 7lia-forgtripping the sarne from holding engagementjwith the heel 'of the pawl- '67. S e F e r mwv: an" 1 1 iv l l :1 Immediately upon theztripping 0f both-of the detents' '70 ,and flh againstg-theinaotion fofythe springs 73 and 3.74;: the pawlufifl will l -bezreleased and forced into engagement with one of: theteeth ofthe continuously rotating ratchet wheel 68, which in turn will transmit rotary motion to the collar 48;and its camy49, for moving-the platen 38 to :its printing position and: causing l impressions oflthe type ip1ates116and l5 tot-be made upon the card i a 1througlr thei mediumof {the ink"- ing iribbon-57,-,while at the same time, the punch 61 will haveza been ,forced rearwardly, as previously described, for cutting away a relatively small portion of the; lower lefthand corner of the card a, as shown morei'clearly in Figures 16' a d yl'k, v l These printing rand-i punching; operations are made almost instantly followingthe'successive tripping of the detents 70 and-'7, 1 and before rowing or returning bf the loadedarticle with his identification, number-:-on other character also impressed thereon by-the type late L 15 on thetypecard a,. W 5 -11! T The rotation of the counter-shaitedzand cam .49 is relatively slow as gcom'paredrwith the speed of the motor, due to the geargratio between the worm 43 and itsgear; :44, i so thattthezoperator v may withdraw the {printed card before? the cam 49 makes one complete revolution; ;at whichetime the detents '70 andl'll andtheirvoperatingmem' here 75, -79 and 84 will have been-returned? to their normal positions by the springs 73 and 74, so that the s.continuedrrotationof.;the pawl 6'? about the axis of the shaft "45 :will vcause the heel'of the pawl to trail Y against the detents 70 and -'71,-therebytrippingthe pawl from holding engagement with the ratchet wheel '68,.and a1- lowing said pawl'to be returned to its operating position bylthe spring 69. V I

The heelof the pawl is'provided with an off set shoulder 87' adapted-to'engage a fixed stop 88 on the transmission case 40 for stopping the further rotation of the pawl 67 and cam 49 under the momentum immediately upon the completion of each revolution of those parts, thus completingonecycle'of 'mcvement for the printing and punchingloperation, at'which time the pawl 67 and cam 49, together with the detents 70and 'il' and'card actuated parts controlling the same, will be restored to their starting positions. I 1

These operations may, of course, be repeated on the sameor different cards, but when the same card is used for receiving additionalimpressions from the type plates 16 and 15, it is evident that the punching out of the lower left-hand corner of the card will allow the upper wall' of the out out portion to be moved downwardly a distance corresponding to the cutout so that when the previously printed and punched card has been re-inserted into its guide opening 10 the upper wall of the cut out will be brought into engagement with the top shoulder 60 of the punch 61', ready for-a'repetition' of the printinga'nd punching operations upon the same card.

- It therefore follows, thatthe continuous print ing and punching operations upon the same card will be in successive stages from the lower end upwardly on said card, but these operations are limitedto about half the length of the card so that the upper end of thelatter may always be accessible to the operator for controlling said operations.

v The means for limiting the downward movementof the card is best shown in Figure 4 in which the platen 38 is provided with a stop shoulder 89 located a distance below the platen members 37 and 3'7 approximately equal to one-half thelength of the card, more or less, said platen being also provided with a guard plate 90 just at the inside of the shoulder 89 to direct the lower end of the card onto the shoulder as the card is moved Ribbon feed mechanism As previously intimated, the inking ribbon 57 extends across the printing faces of the type plates 15 and-16 and therefore across the front face, of the relatively stationaryplaten 36' and thence around the ends of said platen and rearwardly therefrom around suitable guide rods 91, the. ends of said ribbon being wound upon suitable reels 92 and 92', as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and? to 11 inclusive and Figure 16.

.These reels are rotatively mounted upon separate shafts 93 and 93' which are secured to the underside of the lid- 5 to extend downwardly therefrom when the lid is closed, it being understood that the entire ribbon feedingand supporting mechanism is mounted upon the lid to move therewith so that when the lid is open the various parts of the mechanism are readily accessible for repairs and adjustments. v The inkingribbon is wound in reverse directions upon their respective reels 92 and 92,'one of which is adapted to' be rotated to wind the ribbon thereon at each printing operation For this purpose a pair of ratchet wheels 94 .are loosely mounted upon their respective shafts 93 and 93' and are provided with clutch pins 95 engaging in sockets in the adjacent ends of the hubs of the corresponding reels, as shown more clearly in Figure 10.

These reels 92 and 92' are displaceable axially at will from their respective shafts, but are held against accidental displacement by detents 96 which are mounted in slots in the adjacent ends of the shafts of the posts 93 and 93 and are pro-- A lever 97 is centrally pivoted at 98 to the underside of the lid 5 between the reels 92 to extend in opposite' directions from its pivot beyond the supporting posts for said reels, as shown more clearly in Figures 7 to 11 inclusive, said lever being provided at one end with an extension 9'7 to which is pivotally connected one end of a slide rod or bar 99 having its other end slotted at'99 forreceiving a guide pin 100 on the underside of the lid 5, as shown more clearly in Figure 7.

v This slide rod-99 is adapted to be moved rearwardly against the action of a retracting spring 102 by the corresponding movement of the platen 38to its printing position, and for this purpose the upper portion of the platen is provided with a forwardly projecting flange 38 upon which is mounted an adjusting screw 101 which is arranged to engage the front end of the slide bar 99 as the platen is moved rearwardly for effecting a corresponding rocking movement of the lever 97 about its pivot 98 said screw being held in its adjusted position by a lock nut 101 as shown more clearly in Figures 7, 17 and 18.

- Suitable feeding pawls 103 are pivotally mounted at 103' upon the lever 97 at opposite sides of its pivot 98, and are adapted to be alternately moved into and out of engagement with their respective ratchet wheels 94 so that when either one of the pawls is in engagement with its ratchet Wheel, the rocking movement of the lever 97 will cause the rotation of the corresponding reel for winding the ribbon 5'7 thereon, and unwinding it fromthe other reel, each active pawl being yieldinglyheld in engagement with the teeth of its ratchet wheel by a suitable spring, shown more clearly in Figure 9.

It is now clear that during each rearward movement of the platen 38 to its printing position, similar motion will be transmitted through the slide rod 99 to the lever 97, thereby operating the active pawl into engagement with its ratchet wheel for feeding the rihbon 57 in one direction.

- Additional pawls or detents 104 are pivoted at 104' to the underside of the lid 5 at opposite sides of the pivot 98 of the lever 9'7 for engaging and holding the active'ratchet wheel 94 and its reel 92 against return movement; said pawls being spring-pressed into engagement with their respective ratchet wheels, as shown more clearly in Figure 9.

Suitable means is provided for tripping the feeding and holding pawls for each ratchet wheel from their active positions and allowing the feeding and holding pawls for the other ratchet wheel to be brought to their active positions as the ribbon approaches the end of its unwinding isflpivoted at 113' tolthe rocker movement from either ree'h'and; for this-purpose a lever l05-is centrally pivoted L atIOE to the direction's from its pivot some distance beyond said -reel-s, and is providednear its opposite-ends with downwardly: projecting slotted. hanges 107 forreceiving adjacent portions of a ribbon 57; as shown morecl'early in Figures' fi wand 11". wThe ribbon B'Tisprovided near :both ends with clips 108 of relatively greater width than the slots in the flanges 107 "so thattas the ribbon continues to unwind from one of the reelsthe' clip 108' willengage and operat'e the adjacent end of the le veri-10 5'in the direction of: movement ottheirib'bon; thereby rocking thelever from the position shownaby fulllinestoathe position shown bydotted lines-in Fig'ureilr: x 3

'The lever 105 is? provided with a 1 central rear wai'iily projecting arm 1109mm roclc therewith, andais guided in a grooved guide member ll'o' as shown more cleaflyiniigures 8, 9 and 11:

Arock arm 111' shown'in Figures 9, 10 and 11;

is pivoted, to the? post 106 co-axial-with the axis oiymov'ementLof the lever-"105 touextend from said pivot in the direction of, and parallel with, 109': of the lever?1105,:iandl has itsirear en'diguided -in a gr'oove-in the guidewmember 110, aslshownwmore clearly imFigiurerll wm These rocker arms 109 and 111: are-arranged spaced:parallellrelation' to receive between-them a U-shaped spring: 112*,as shown :more clearly Figures 9 and 11, "one end of the spring. being pivotedtat 113 to theleverg105, while its other end.-

when thetarm 109 i is; rocked in one-direction by thesclip 108 on. the ribbon .5'7:,.- the; pivotal 1 113 will be moved from one side ofaa direct line betweenvthe pivots .-113-':.and 106 to: the opposite side-.012 lisaid direct line,'zthereby reversingthe pom sition of v the ,spring "112 and. causingsthe; rockerarms 109.: andllll to move in opposite directions; r The; rocker arm 111 ;is pivoted intermediate its ends -at 114 to, the centralpertion of a slide ybar 1151,;which extendsdiametrically across the? axes oft -the ratchettwheels 9 4 and reels 92 and-92" and. pr i edwith lo s 6 for: rep v eradiaq nt portions of both of the reel-supporting postst93f n 9? s lid h bei d osed i a plane at t di ep w w d-z v e-its oppo i e en s in e or l s emcqn a tt w h" t e tee ht pa s hown e tc ar 'Y, l "-1 l it Under :these conditions the scillatory movem n r th ma r new di e qn w m s a co res ond end i emvem nt i t a 1 -h? PWiu i3Qfi nawh a d 1 w1 Y QM-Q RQSKFQ'J W move to its active position, there}; eversing th'e direction of movement- .of the inking ribbon through the mediumoofthe levei'; 97 con-- motions with" t iepiat jes y.

e n r-r k arm 11,15 1S t, v H of land betweem. the holdinganpawlsy'lo i hating or less close proximity tdthe lengthwise edges. of the rocker arini 111. whereby. theniovernent of said rockerlarm inoneldiree tionby the rock-mg action of thelever 105' will, efict'the tripping ;.of one their heels in more N oi the p'alwlsfroid its holding. position and allow the other pawl l to engage its corresponding ratohetfwheel.

In lather words when I the rocker arm 111.. is hiovedfin' .th direction for, one of 1 the ratchet wheels I it will" effect tripping oi the feeding ii'aw 1 and h l e aw 1. a a t sam time 'allow'athe pawls ofi'ithe" other "ratchet wheelto move into activer-engagementttherewith.v: f

1 the:librariambearing:his or rherxidentiflcation number or other character; The librarian then" selects trom hisfiles a; card bearing thisliden'tificationucharacter in. the ior'm -cr :a type tplate 15;, which card is then inserted-in the guide slot 14 in thelid 1 5*until! its lower end is seated against thestop'5'5 'Figure5rurm t j '1 s The borrower's card is then; handed; to -the lie brarian by whom it is insertedinv the other guide slot. untilrlimited bytheengagement of its lower edge -withthe shoulder 60' on thepunchefil;

Figure 17. This 'insertion' of thewc'ardo in its guide 10' will rock'the member 75, Figure 18,1 thereby efiecting'the endw'ise movement of the member '19i'to cause'its shoulder'ls'i toengagithe pin 83 and thereby trip the detent qoafrom holding engagement with the heel .ofithe' pawh 6'7:

Then; as-the downward movement'of the card a :continues; it will engage: and". operate the lever; 84 to trip the other detent -71; and therebyallow time paw fi'l'to beforhedintb engagement withthe teeth of the their. rotating ratchetcwheell 68 by means of aspri'ng 692 z The pawl 67 which is pivoted-tothe end face of the cam: sleeve 48. will then -be "moved arou'nd the axis offthe'i shaft 45 to cause the rotation of; the cam wandr'esultant operation of the platen 38 to'its printing "position for. printing the date of borrowingifrom ther'egis'teringtype plate 16 onto the rear face of the card iwwhi'le atthe same time the platen, and by thesameoperationz-of the platen, the imprint of the type on the card, a will ber impre'ssedi upon the same side of .theca-rd a 111511118 withthedateimpressions.

Itwill, of course; be'understood'that before this printing operationrtake's placeithewt'ypetbar 1? will have-beenadjustedzby'the: hand piece to bringithe desired type plates 16 into registration withthe platen'memher. 37. :wzrrv i "The rearwardsmovementroi the: laten' 38 to'its printing-"position will cause ithe: punch 61 to be moved simultaneously in the same direction for cutting-away the lo'iiver ilefthand corner-oi the card,as indicatect asai'iFigure'25: 5 i 'r This rearward movement of the platen 38---will also cause the operation of the supporting lever 9'7 for the i'ee'ding pawls to be operated "in-the sanie direction throughthe medium of the slide rod'99ffor feeding the ribbon endwi'se' 'arelativei 13" short distance, this'feeding of the ribbonbeing intermittent" or at each "rearward rnoveinent' 'of the platen'toitsprintirigposition; h t i" med ly mo achrin n w t ti i it t s [9 and a will be withdrawn frcmthe niachine with the t m at orro n printed th eon and area ime Q 'F IA whi e. the otherqa d lj It is, of I course, understood tha turned to having diiferent date carriers;

for re-use forthe same borrower. These operations may be repeated upon the return of the borrowers card for receiving the date ofreturn. '1

That is, the same borrowers card is presented to the librarian each time an articlev is borrowed or'returned, and the dates of 'borrowingand re'.- turn are successively impressed thereon by the operations previously described fromthe bottom upwardly, the successive printing operations -be' ing permitted by the gradual cutting away of the lower lefthand edge of. the card duringeach printing operation, the successively'cutaway portions being arranged to determine, the line spacing of the printed impressions on the card. I

As previously stated, the distance of the limit-- ing stop 89, Figure 4, below the platenmembers 37 and. 3'7 is' approximately equal to one-half the length of the card so that successive impressions may be made thereon from either end of; the cardapproximately half its length, andthese impressions may be made on both sides of the card by simply reversing the same, thereby utiliz ing practically the entire. area of .both sides for receiving the dates of borrowing and return. (As the'ribbon approaches the limit of its unwinding movement from either reel the lever .1051 will be operated by said ribbon to efiect the releasing of the previously active feeding pawls for one reel'and the simultaneous engagement of the feeding pawl of the other reel for automatically reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon from one reel to the other. 1 Whenever it is necessary to replace the type plates 16 the bar 13 may be withdrawn upwardly by hand from its guide 12 after which the spring 20 may be depressed inwardly to allow the type plates 16.to be withdrawn from the lower end of the type bar and replaced by other type plates.

l The operations of the variouswdetail;mecha-' nisms have been heretofore described. w

The various mechanisms of the machine and their manner of assembly within a single housing are particularly simple, practical and durable, but obviously various changes may be made with-v out departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:- l 1 1; In a printing machine'iof the character described, a printing mechanism including a platen; a type-carrier, andan inkingribbon movable between the type carrier and platen, incombination with a guide for guiding-a card to besprinted between the platen and inking ribbon, said card being adapted to be. inserted into and removed from the guide by hand, a power-driven rotary shaft, means actuated by the insertion of the card into the guide for causing thetransmission of motion from the shaft to the platen, and means actuated by the platen for feeding the ribbon end;

- wise.

2. In a printing machine of the character .described, a printing mechanism including a platen, a type-carrier, and an inking ribbon, in combination with means for guiding a card to be printed between the platen and inking ribbon, saidcard being adaptedto be inserted into and removed from the guide by hand, a motor, meanscon trolled by the insertion of the card into the guide for transmitting motion from the motor ,to the platen, means actuated by the platen for feed: ing the ribbon endwise, a punch for cuttingaway a portion of, the card,.and means actuated by the platen for operating the punch.

will be returned to the files oftheslibraryready 3.- In-.a printing machine of the character de-' scribed, a. type-carrier; a platen movable into and type-carrier, a motor, means including a clutch.

for" transmitting motion-from the motor to the platen,- ;a' movable member actuated by said article when the latter is inserted between the platen and type-carrier, and means actuated by said movable member for causing the engagement of the clutch to effect the operation of the platen; 1: L '1:-

,4'.In a card-printing machine into which the card is. adapted to-be inserted and removed'by hand, a printing mechanism including a platen, an inkingribbon, andfia :type carrier adjustable at will to register itstype with the platen, in combination with a continuously rotating element-means including a clutch for transmitting motion from-said element to the platen for moving the latter to its printing position, means actuated by the insertion'of'the card for engaging saidclutch, and means actuated by the platen for shifting the ribbon endwise relatively to the type carrier.-

5. In a card printing machine into which the type-carrier for printing upon the card, and'means actuated by the platen for cutting away the pore tion of the card engaged with the stop to allow further movement of thecard into the machine.

a '6. ma card printing'machine into which the card is adapted to be inserted and removed by hand, a printing mechanism including a platen, an inking ribbon", 'and a type carrier, in combination with card-controlled power-driven means for moving the'platen to its printing position, means actuated by the'plat'en for shifting the ribbon endwise relatively to the type carrier, and means, operable at will, for feeding the type-carrier stepby-step into the machine to register different portions of itstype with the platen. 7. In a machinefor printing the dates of borrowing and return of a circulating-library-card in which the card is inserted into and removed from the machine by hand, the combination with a platen reciprocally movable toward and from the card-of power-driven rotated means including a clutch brought into action by the insertion of the card into the machine for moving the'platen toward'the card, anda type-carrier movable at will to and from a position between the platen and card-for receiving pressure from the platen and impressing thetype upon the card.

8'. In' a'machine for receiving a card to be printed, the combinationwith a slidable typecarrier' adapted to be placed at will adjacent one surface of the card, power-driven rotary means including 'a'card-controlled clutch for pressing the type carrier against the card for making impressions of the type thereon. a

9. In .a card-printing machine, co-operative printing elements, one of which is movable into and out ofprinting co-action with the other, a guide for directing the card between said elements, a stop for limiting the inward movement of the card along said guide, a continuously rotating member, means including a clutch for transmitting "motion from said member to the movable printing element, and means actuated by the insertion of said card into the guide for caus ing the engagement of the clutch.

10. In a card-printing machine, a fixed platen having laterally spaced guides, separate typeber, means including a clutch for transmitting motion from said member to the movable platen, and means actuated by the insertion of the card into its guide for causing the engagement of the clutch.

11. In a card-printing machine, a fixed platen having a guide, a type carrier having a plurality of rows of type arranged in sequence lengthwise thereof, said carrier being slidable along the guide to successively bring each row of type to a printing position, means for guiding the card slidably across the face of the type, a movable platen for pressing the card into printing coaction with the row of type in said position, a continuously rtating member, means including a clutch for transmitting motion from said member to the movable platen, and means actuated by the insertion of the card in its guiding means for causing the engagement of the clutch.

12. In a card-printing machine, a fixed platen having laterally spaced guides, separate type-carriers' slidable in said guides, means for guiding the card to be printed slidably across the type faces of both carriers, a stop for limiting the inward movement of the card into the guiding means, a movable platen for pressing the card into printing coaction with the type of both carriers simultaneously, a continuously rotating member, means including a clutch for transmitting motion from said member to the platen and means brought into action by the insertion of,

the card in its guiding means for causing the engagement of the clutch.

13. In a card-printing machine of the character described,- a type-plate carrier, a plurality of type plates arranged in sequence upon the carrier, a guide along which the carrier is movable to present each type plate to a printing position, the card being movable across the type face of the plates, a movable platen for pressing the card into printing coaction with the type in said position, a continuously rotating element, means including a clutch for transmitting motion from said element to the movable platen, and means actuated by the movement of the card across the type plates for engaging the clutch.

LLOYD W. MOULTON. 

